Open heart surgery: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

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Open heart surgery

Images

Heart valve surgery - series

Read More

Angioplasty and stent placement - heart

Atrial septal defect

Coarctation of the aorta

Congenital heart defect corrective surgeries

Heart bypass surgery

Heart bypass surgery - minimally invasive

Heart transplant

Heart valve surgery

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Patent ductus arteriosus

Pulmonary atresia

Tetralogy of Fallot

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return

Ventricular septal defect

Open heart surgery is any surgery where the chest is opened and surgery is performed on the heart muscle, valves, arteries, or other heart structures. The term "open" refers to the chest, not the heart itself. The heart may or may not be opened, depending on the type of surgery.

A heart-lung mahcine (also called cardiopulmonary bypass) is usually used during conventional open heart surgery. It helps provide oxygen-rich blood to the brain and other vital organs.

The definition of open heart surgery has become confusing with new procedures being performed on the heart through smaller incisions. There are some new surgical procedures being performed that are done with the heart still beating.

Minimally invasive heart surgery (MIDCAB, OPCAB, RACAB), including robotic-assisted heart surgery, is still considered open heart surgery. However, these procedures are being used in some patients as an alternative to open heart surgery requiring the heart-lung machine.

See also:

Aortic valve surgery - minimally invasive
Aortic valve surgery - open
Atrial septal defect repair
Cardiac transplant
Coarctation of the aorta repair
Congenital heart defect corrective surgery
Heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft - CABG)
Heart transplant
Heart valve surgery
Hypoplastic left heart repair
Minimally invasive heart surgery (MIDCAB, OPCAB, RACAB)
Mitral valve surgery - minimally invasive
Mitral valve surgery - open
Pediatric heart surgery
Tetralogy of Fallot repair
Total anomalous pulmonary venous return correction
Transplant of the heart
Transposition of great vessels repair
Tricuspid atresia repair
Truncus arteriosus repair
Ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair

After the Procedure

Recovery from open heart surgery can be easy or difficult, depending on how healthy you were before the surgery. Pain medication is usually prescribed to help ease the pain from the cut in your chest.

Alternative Names

Heart surgery - open

Update Date: 5/6/2009

Updated by: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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